Software Engineering RIT

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Software Engineering _at_ RIT
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A Bit of History

• 1968 NATO Conference on Software Engineering
• ICSE conferences start in mid-1970s
• M.S. programs in 1980s
• Undergraduate courses tracks in early 1990s
• RIT BSSE launched in 1996
• ABET program criteria in 1998
• 2002 Approximately 20 BSSE programs in U.S.

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Why Undergraduate SE?

• Lack of proper preparation by EE, CpE, CS
• Engineering graduates didnt understand software
  development.
• CS graduates didnt understand product
  engineering.
• Increasing demand for software engineers
• Not programmers.
• Not theoreticians.
• Existing and emerging principles for an
  engineering discipline of software
• Engineering science design.
• Engineering process for software.

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Differences With EE / CpE
If Babbages Analytical Engine had worked, Id be
presenting to the ASME.

• Digital electronics is the enabler for software.
• But software has distinct characteristics
• Different mathematical foundations.
• Different relative advantages and disadvantages
• H/W and S/W - a symbiotic relationship
• Software w/o a computer is a pipedream.
• A computer w/o software is a doorstop.

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Differences With EE / CpE

• Focus on the development of high-quality,
  cost-effective software systems.
• As part of larger engineered systems.
• As useful products in their own right.
• The challenge of malleability
• Softwares greatest asset.
• Softwares Achilles heel.
• Desiderata Balance flexibility offered by
  software with necessary discipline to prevent
  chaos.

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Our Focus at RIT

• Architecture Design
• Common proven patterns and styles.
• Tradeoff analysis of different design approaches.
• Formal modeling for analysis.
• Supporting Processes
• Development process models.
• Verification validation of software.
• Product and process metrics.
• Team-based Development
• Connection to Application Domain
• Cooperative Education

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The Curriculum

• Liberal Arts (38 QH)
• Math Science (51 QH)
• Calculus (3) Differential Equations
• Probability Statistics, Discrete Math (2)
• Chemistry Physics (3)
• Scientific Applications Software
• Computer Science (24 QH)
• Basic programming, algorithms, data structures
• Professional Communications
• Programming Language Concepts

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The Curriculum

• Allied Engineering (16 QH)
• Assembly Language Digital Systems
• Computer Organization
• Human Factors
• Software Engineering (48 QH)
• Intro. to SE, S/W Subsystems, S/W Architecture
• Formal Methods, Requirements, Sr. Project (2)
• Five electives from design process
• Application Domain (12 QH)
• Free Electives (4 QH!)

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What Does the Future Hold?

• Continued high demand for software engineers by
  industry.
• Better linkage of analytical models and empirical
  methods.
• Increased focus on reliability and security
  across the software system landscape.
• A range of processes based on product market
  characteristics.